But a definite starter is new &#xA3;10 million signing Laurent Robert.

While Rob Lee confesses that he will have "a lump in my throat" in what is bound to be an emotional occasion for him, Bobby Robson is using tomorrow's game as a pointer the season's opener at Chelsea at Stamford Bridge a week on Sunday.

And the United boss told me today: "Carl Cort has been in full training for the past couple of days and if he has no reaction then we could give him 10 minutes tomorrow."

Cort, pictured right, picked up a bad ankle injury in the final game of last season and has been out of action ever since.

Robson said that Robert will start tomorrow, while both Andy O'Brien and Marcelino have also been added to the squad which played out a goalless draw with Troyes in the Intertoto Cup final first leg in France on Tuesday night.

Adds the United boss: "I will be playing my strongest team and that includes Robert. I am excited about seeing the boy play and I am sure the fans feel just the same."

Bilbao, who knocked United out of the UEFA Cup on the away goals rule in 1994-95, will choose from the same squad which went down 3-0 to Middlesbrough at the Riverside last Saturday in Curtis Fleming's testimonial: